Spring 2023
A MESSAGE FROM OUR PRESIDENT AND CEO, PAUL GROVE
This spring, WEDU PBS is celebrating the old and the new. In addition to returning fan-favorite programs, there are many exciting new programs in our lineup.
WEDU PBS is a constant source of inspiration and knowledge with documentaries that demonstrate the power of the human spirit, including Buffalo Soldiers: Fighting on Two Fronts and Matter of Mind: My ALS. Additionally, programs such as Season 2 of The Great American Recipe celebrate diverse cultures and global flavors.
WEDU PBS is proud to bring you the thought-provoking specials, engaging documentaries, and robust programs that you have come to expect from us.
Our mission is to educate, explore, and engage, inspiring a lifetime of learning and discovery.
With support from generous members like you, we will continue to deliver quality broadcasting to everyone in West Central Florida.
Onward and upward!
National Memorial Day Concert
National Memorial Day Concert Honors American Military
This year, join WEDU PBS in honoring the men and women who serve our country. Tune in Memorial Day weekend to view the annual National Memorial Day Concert, where celebrities, musicians, and United States military choirs and ensembles will perform a variety of tributes to our armed forces. There will also be presentations given by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
For more than three decades, the National Memorial Day Concert has been a symbol of support and appreciation for our military men and women. Don’t miss this special event!
Airs Sunday, May 28, at 8 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Watch this program live or stream anytime with the PBS app.
NOVA: Your Brain Explores One of Our Greatest Tools
Join neuroscientist Dr. Heather Berlin as she takes viewers on an exploration of the human brain in NOVA’s new two-part series. You’ll learn more about one of our most powerful tools than you ever thought possible, from the latest scientific research and technology to how your brain determines your perception of the world around you to where things like creativity and bias come from.
You’ll be hooked before the end of the first episode — don’t miss this opportunity to see life through a brand-new lens.
Perception Deception airs Wednesday, May 17, at 9 p.m.
Who’s in Control airs Wednesday, May 24, at 9 p.m.
Watch this program live or stream anytime on the PBS app.
NOVA: Your Brain
Ken Burns
Watch PBS Programs at Your Convenience
WEDU PBS Passport is a special member benefit allowing extended access to an on-demand streaming library of many of your favorite PBS programs, online and through the PBS app.
In addition to featuring the signature series you know and love, the library is full of acclaimed arts, sciences, history, and lifestyle programs, as well as a rotating selection of films from Ken Burns.
Unlock everything WEDU PBS Passport has to offer. Binge-watch popular shows like All Creatures Great and Small, stream WEDU PBS Passport exclusives and special collections, or catch up on all your past favorites. Visit wedu.org/watch/passport.
Food, Culture, and Competition: The Great American Recipe Is Back
This summer, The Great American Recipe returns for a second season of cooking and excitement!
Join host Alejandra Ramos and judges Leah Cohen, Tiffany Derry, and Graham Elliot as they lead cooks from around the country through a delicious eight-part competition. Over the course of the show, contestants will showcase not only their cooking skills, but the diverse cultural influences that make their favorite recipes unique. Viewers will no doubt discover inspiration for their next meal with this season of The Great American Recipe!
Airs Mondays, June 19 through August 7, at 9 p.m. Watch this program live or stream anytime with the PBS app.
Photo credit: PBS
Tom Jones
MASTERPIECE Is the Place to Be in 2023
Kick off spring with a brand-new four-part miniseries based on Henry Fielding’s 1749 novel, The History of Tom Jones. The series follows the exploits of young Tom Jones as he navigates the trials and tribulations of discovering love.
Tom Jones is a timeless tale of romance set in 18th-century England that resonates with today’s audiences as much as it did when the novel was first published.
Tom Jones premieres Sunday, April 30, at 9 p.m.
Watch this program live or stream anytime with the PBS app.
Come Celebrate WEDU PBS
Only you know what WEDU PBS means to you and your family. Others in the community have their own reasons to love what WEDU PBS does for West Central Florida. Let’s get together and make some noise.
May 1–2, we invite you to be part of a grassroots movement to advocate for and support WEDU PBS. It’s the first-ever Public Media Giving Days event!
Celebrate what #PublicMediaGives to you and the community you call home.
Over these two days, we’ll spread the word and help secure a strong future for public media.
Learn more: wedu.org/givingdays.
Tales of Perseverance and Bravery Come to Independent Lens
Matter of Mind: My ALS
This spring, Independent Lens brings viewers two stories of incredible strength and self-discovery. In Matter of Mind: My ALS, three people diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease share their journeys and explore what the future holds for them. The product of four award-winning filmmakers, this documentary gives personal and profound perspectives on what it’s like to live each day accompanied by this disease.
Matter of Mind: My ALS airs Monday, May 1, at 10 p.m.
Sam Now
Sam Harkness’ mother abruptly left when he was 11 years old and it turned his family upside down. Through a series of home videos put together by Sam’s half brother, director Reed Harkness, Sam Now depicts the rollercoaster of emotions and growth that characterized the next 15 years as Sam and his family learned to cope with their loss.
Sam Now airs Monday, May 8, at 10 p.m.
Watch these programs live or stream anytime with the PBS app.
Buffalo Soldiers: Fighting on Two Fronts
Dru Holley Shares Hidden History in Buffalo Soldiers: Fighting on Two Fronts
Take a deep dive into American history with Buffalo Soldiers: Fighting on Two Fronts. Produced by Dru Holley, this film tells the stories of six all-Black cavalry and infantry regiments that fought for the United States Army over a century ago, known as Buffalo Soldiers.
Told through many different perspectives and with a specific focus on the settling of the American West and colonialism abroad, Buffalo Soldiers: Fighting on Two Fronts sheds light on a part of our country’s story that is full of contradictions and largely untold.
Airs Monday, June 12, at 9 p.m.
Watch this program live or stream anytime with the PBS app.
Every contribution makes a difference.
There are many wonderful ways to support WEDU PBS during the year, including making creative noncash gifts:
IRA Charitable Rollover
If you’re over 72, you can donate up to $100,000 to WEDU directly from your IRA, without treating the distribution as taxable income. To learn more about giving from your IRA, talk to your financial or tax advisor.
Gifts of stocks, bonds, and mutual funds
Donating directly to WEDU any stocks or mutual funds that you have held longer than one year and that have appreciated in value is a savvy giving strategy to avoid capital gains taxes. Consult with your financial advisor to help leverage your gift for the best tax savings.
Donate your car, motorcycle, boat, and RV – or even a kayak!
We make donating your vehicle as easy as possible with fast pickup and streamlined paperwork. You benefit by being able to reduce your taxable income when taxes are itemized. Plus, you avoid the costs associated with selling your car.
Learn more about creative giving opportunities:
CALL: (813) 739-2959
EMAIL: [email protected]
VISIT: wedugiving.org
To get your copy of our FREE personal estate planning booklet, call the WEDU PBS Development Office at (813) 739-2959 or email us at [email protected]. Learn more: wedugiving.org.